From construction terms, to drawing sheet titles to groovy words like ‘fenestration’, a simple conversation with an architect will easily make you feel lost. There are times when we have architect as friends or approach them for design services. Architects usually use short terms and phrases to convey complex architecture. This allows the architect to converse and explain various building aesthetics. So we are listing here some common architectural terms for your next architect-friend or client-architect conversations.

By the way the groovy word ‘fenestration’ means – presence of openings in a building which include doors, windows, skylight, louvers, curtain walls and glazed system !

Here’s the list of some common architectural terms –

Arcade – A series of arches (pointed/curved elements) supported by columns or other vertical elements.

Baluster – A small moulded shaft, square or circular, in stone or wood, sometimes metal, supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. A series of balusters supporting a handrail is called balustrade.

BIM – It stands for ‘Building Information Modeling’. Quite heard nowadays in architecture and engineering sector, it’s a 3D-model based digital system used to plan, design and construct buildings and infrastructure facilities.

Cantilever – An unsupported overhanging beam that has support at one end only, like a flagpole sticking out of the side of a wall.

Curtain wall – It typically refers to a framework of aluminium/steel members with glass fit-in between them. Examples are easily spotted in malls, office buildings.

Diagram – It’s not like your science diagram at all ! In architecture, diagram means a graphical representation of concepts that are part of the building including its principle elements and composition.

Dado– The part of a wall below the dado rail, sometimes decorated with wood panels. Its purpose it to cover the lower part of wall which can be subject to stains.

Eaves – The projecting edge of a roof that overhangs an exterior wall to protect it from the rain.

Eclectic style/décor – It’s a popular term used in interior design projects used to define a décor which has a mix of various styles, trends and colors.

By now you will understand what this sentence means –‘The shopping mall has a central atrium lined by an arcade.’

Facade – An exterior wall, or face of a building. The front facade of a building contains the building’s main entrance, the rear facade is the building’s rear exterior wall, and the side facades are a building’s side exterior walls.

Floor plan – A floor plan refers to the actual layout of the building showing arrangement of rooms in a building. Usually when printed on a paper it shows dimensions, notes, and any other details needed for construction.

Gable roof – A roof with two slopes joined at a single edge parallel to the entrance.

Hip roof – A roof with four sloping sides. Two sides of roof are triangular while other two are trapezoidal in shape.

Herringbone pattern – Resembling to bones of herring fish, it is arrangement of blocks or rectangles used in floor tiles and pavements.

Industrial decor and style – This interior design style is used in loft apartments, modern homes and commercial spaces around the world. It highlights neutral tones, utilitarian objects, wood and metal surfaces. One can find presence of unfinished concrete columns and beam, exposed electrical pipes, and mechanical ducts.

Interlaced arches – A decoration style emerged from Roman architecture in which arches from alternate column intersect each other to form a pattern.